Interior Innovations

In new build projects, interior architecture often influences the operational costs, emissions and carbon footprint in more ways than the base build. An interior refurbishment can have a significant impact on an older building’s environmental impact because interventions here have the biggest effect on daily emissions and efficiencies. The interior design and spatial quality will also significantly affect occupant well-being and health.

Material selections, energy and water efficiency, harnessing smart technologies and indoor air quality strategies should all be considered carefully as they significantly affect people and planet. With biophilic design and wellness-orientated spaces becoming more sought after, there has been – and should continue to be – more emphasis on what’s inside a building and how it affects its occupants, rather than just an iconic exterior.

Material choices

Sustainable Building Consultant at Solid Green Consulting, Elri Syfert, explains that materials should be resource efficient. Materials that are renewable, recyclable or locally sourced minimise the depletion of finite resources. Using durable materials will reduce further manufacture and transport impact. Syfert adds that materials also affect indoor air quality, and selecting low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints, natural fibres and non-toxic finishes will foster a healthier environment for occupants.

Lighting the way

Lighting has an impact on both energy usage, and health and well-being. Incorporating natural light into spaces reduces the requirement for artificial light and contributes to occupant wellness. Syfert explains that using energy-efficient light fittings such as LEDs significantly reduces energy consumption, and they need to be replaced less often, reducing waste. Smart controls, such as dimmers, timers and sensors, further improve the efficient use of light.

Sanitary ware selections

Specifying the right sanitary ware significantly influences sustainability goals. Karen Robyn, General Manager at Duravit, explains some of the most important considerations when choosing fittings. Water conservation is the most obvious impact: “Dual-flush and low-flush toilet systems cut water use by up to 50%, while sensor-activated faucets prevent unnecessary wastage,” Robyn says. Materiality and life cycle is also a consideration. Porcelain is the most sustainable choice, as it avoids the durability and recyclability challenges of plastic and has much lower embodied carbon than stainless steel. But “not all porcelain is created equal”, explains Robyn. Sourcing, production and recyclability factors are important. Cradle-to-grave assessments can help to differentiate manufacturers by looking at factors such as raw material sourcing, emissions during manufacturing, recycled content, waste management and the use of finishes such as lead-free, low-VOC glazing technologies.

According to Robyn, the integration of smart technology into sanitary ware has been a game changer. Automated flush systems, digital water monitoring and self-cleaning surfaces lower maintenance demands, reducing both water and chemical use. Touch-free operation and anti-microbial surfaces minimise the spread of germs. In high-traffic areas, operations and water use can be remotely monitored, giving a real-time picture of water use and identifying leaks early, allowing predictive maintenance.

Syfert adds that selecting energy-saving water heaters can drastically reduce energy use for plumbing, and greywater recycling or rainwater harvesting can be utilised to further reduce water consumption.

Inspirational examples

Several eye-catching and sustainable Interiors projects have achieved Green Star recognition. Designers prioritised sustainability in their material selections, energy-efficient fixtures and water-saving fittings. So what sets them apart?

The ENSafrica fitout in Cape Town comprises seven floors of office space. The interior design, by thinkspace, prioritised flexible workspaces, acoustic privacy and occupant well-being. Syfert, the Accredited Professional (AP) for this project, says the design was influenced by the Covid-19 outbreak: to minimise the spread of disease, a “one size fits all” philosophy was adopted, and the OWN Spaces (OS) concept was born. Each staff member has an OS, clustered around a central core, with a high level of visual and acoustic privacy. Each has individually controlled air-conditioning and lighting, and access to communal services. Separate “restorative spaces” were incorporated, where staff could retreat into a space with biophilic design elements such as indoor plants, natural light and external views. Thinkspace Managing Director Guido Tagge says they tried to balance functionality with collaboration and sustainability. “The result was a 5-Star Green Star Interiors V1 certification, something we’re incredibly proud of.”

The ConneXXion houses Exxaro’s offices in Centurion, Gauteng. Five office floors sit above four basement parking levels, just steps from the Centurion Gautrain station. The thinkspace-designed interior fitout achieved a 4-Star Green Star rating (Interiors V1.1), meaning it demonstrates “Best Practice” in sustainability. This contributed to the overall sustainability status of the building, which also achieved a 6-Star Green Star Office As-Built rating and the first-ever South African WELL certification for Core and Shell by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).

“Our Design Approach leaned heavily into human-centric sustainability, ensuring the space not only operated efficiently but also promoted employee well-being in a tangible way,” says Tagge. He adds that smart technologies were harnessed for lighting and ventilation, and automation systems maintain optimal work environments while maintaining maximum efficiency. Technical Director at Zutari, Yovka Raytcheva-Schaap, explains that certifying the base building as well as the interior fitout results in “deeper, more substantial, environmental, occupant and economic benefits”. The expected economic benefits largely relate to the fact that staff will be healthier, more engaged and more productive, but also to reduced utilities consumption, she explains.

The Anglo-American fitout in Rosebank, Johannesburg, achieved a 6-Star Green Star rating (Interiors V1), representing “World Leadership”. Raytcheva-Schaap was the AP on this project too, and she explains that its location, within walking distance of the Rosebank Gautrain station and the Rosebank Mall precinct, allowed for targeting of several innovation points, which contributed to the higher certification score. “This is a very important aspect when selecting the location of a development site,” she says. “Its better connection to amenities, roads and public transport networks, and safe and attractive pedestrian routes, result in a building that is more attractive to investors and occupants.”

Also in Rosebank, BCG’s office interiors achieved a 5-Star Green Star rating on Interiors (V1). Syfert, the AP on the project, explains that smart technologies helped to push sustainability goals. Occupancy sensors controlled much of the lighting. Smart energy and water meters report real-time consumption statistics to the Building Management System (BMS). The BMS, in turn, records and trends the information, enabling easy monitoring and prompt maintenance. One “Innovation” category point was achieved through the inclusion of a mothers’ room, designed to encourage and support breastfeeding mothers.

The Vodacom store in Fourways Mall, Johannesburg, is a much smaller fitout. It achieved a 4-Star Green Star rating using the Interiors tool. A challenge in the context of internalised malls is that the store itself has no natural light or external views, both of which are important for occupancy well-being. Cebisa Mafukuzela, Sustainable Building Consultant at Solid Green Consulting, highlights the importance of lighting in a sustainable project, both in terms of energy consumption and light quality. Owing to corporate aesthetic standards, “there were tight parameters to consider in material selection and lighting, and some compromises had to be made from both a design perspective and which credits to target for the certification,” she explains.

This installation also has a particularly innovative smart-technology monitoring system that reduced the need for site visits as construction was monitored remotely. Indoor air quality control “was of particular importance as a response to Covid-19,” explains Mafukuzela. “[The system] provided an opportunity to consider how monitoring different elements can result in spaces that can be commissioned and fine-tuned on an ongoing basis.” For example, fresh-air intake rates can be adjusted to suit changing occupancy.

Smart technology

Raytcheva-Schaap is an advocate for incorporating smart technologies into buildings to achieve sustainability goals and enhance occupant experience. Smart monitoring platforms track and analyse water and power usage along with other building parameters. This helps with building management and maintenance activities but also educates users on their own impact on sustainability. She highlights air-quality sensors with displays or BMS connection that monitor the level of CO2, VOCs and particulate matter as an important contributor to occupant health and wellness.

“The beauty of these systems,” adds Tagge, “is that they don’t just make the space more efficient – they also improve the day-to-day experience of the people using them. When employees feel comfortable, productive and connected to their workspace, the benefits extend beyond sustainability into well-being and even business performance.”

Biophilic design and wellness

Industry professionals agree that there has been a significant increase in demand for biophilic design principles (facilitating the connection of humans to nature and the outdoors) and wellness-orientated principles. Syfert believes that the heightened awareness of mental health in a post-pandemic world has facilitated this shift, as biophilic design has been shown to reduce stress, enhance mood and increase productivity. With the shift towards remote and hybrid working, office environments have started to become spaces that encourage collaboration, creativity and employee well-being.

Interiors of the future

While these examples are all commercial fitouts, the principles can be applied to any building setting. Considerations of efficiency, emissions and occupant comfort should be front of mind whether fitting out a corporate office, a trendy hotel or a family home. Your own space may have more of an impact than you know.